Works In Progress - Common Egret

This is a pastel painting of a Common Egret that I just finished.

The first picture was taken was it was a little over half way done.

The second picture is the finished piece. I've never pictured a bird before and wanted to see if I could represent the feathers in a believable fashion.

For the model I used a photograph that I took last summer at the Oceanside Marine Preserve here on Long Island. The preserve is the summer home to a great variety of birds who prefer living in salt water marshes and along the water's edge. A pair of Osprey returns each Spring to raise their brood of 2 or 3 chicks.
The finished piece is 9 X 12 inches (23 X 30.5 cm).

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